Cottonwood Is The Official State Tree Of Nebraska. Nebraska Adopted the cottonwood as the official Nebraska State Tree in 1972, Replacing the American elm. The cottonwood tree is often associated with pioneer Nebraska shoots that were collected and planted on claims, and several famous early landmarks were cottonwood trees. Today cottonwood trees grow throughout Nebraska. National Tree Of Nebraska Cottonwood Is also called southern cottonwood, common cottonwood, Carolina poplar, plains cottonwood, eastern poplar, necklace poplar, and Alamo.
Cottonwood is one of the largest eastern hardwoods is short-lived but the fastest-growing commercial forest species in North America. Nebraska State Tree Cottonwood grows best on moist well-drained sands or silts near streams, often in pure stands. The lightweight, rather softwood is used primarily for core stock in manufacturing furniture and for pulpwood. National Tree Of Nebraska Cottonwood Tree is one of the few hardwood species that is planted and grown specifically for these purposes. Besides the typical eastern variety, there is a western variety, plains cottonwood.
Identification of the Cottonwood
- Size: The Size of Cottonwood Tree is 80 – 100 feet with 40 – 60 ft. Spread
- Growth: Rapid; moderate to long life span.
- Leaf: The Leaf of Cottonwood Tree is Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, 3 to 6 inches long, triangular (deltoid) in shape with a crenate/serrate margin. The petiole is flattened and glands are present at the top of the petiole.
- Flower: The Flower of Cottonwood Tree is Dioecious, male and female as pendulous catkins, appearing before the leaves.
- Fruit: The fruit of the Cottonwood Tree is Cottony seeds, 1/4 inch long borne in a dehiscent capsule. Maturing over summer.
- Twig: Stout, somewhat angled, and yellowish. Buds are 3/4 inch long, covered with several brown, resinous scales. Has a bitter aspirin taste.
- Bark: Smooth, gray to yellow-green when young. Later turning gray with thick ridges and deep furrows.
- Form: A large tree with a clear bole and an open spreading crown resulting in a somewhat vase-shaped form.
Nebraska State Tree Cottonwood leaves, more broad than long, are slightly smaller and more coarsely toothed than the typical variety. Populus deltoides have been referred to as the eastern cottonwood. But, some botanists recognize two variations of State Tree Of Nebraska Populus deltoides, var. deltoides commonly called the eastern cottonwood and var. occidentalis Rydb. commonly referred to as the plains cottonwood.